Grandpa the Captive

by Alison Tuuk

Grandpa understands

And asks with his stroke-stricken speech

is leather and kisses is a cane and old photo

Whose eyes are made of his past;

old and tired yet still twinkling and curious

Is staying home again for Thanksgiving dinner

tells me with a wink he still has spark

But can't be a champion any longer

Sits in his red leather chair, used to play golf all day

Is longing

Is a captive of stroke and age and war

Is done with his soup and wants some more

Doesn't get up to answer the door

Is beneath all of his onion years

Who I want to set free in a strange little way

Is warmth and big books and Christmas songs loves to rearrange things just like me

Is sorrow yet song and sunshine too

Asking about the grandchildren that are so different than he

So young, so happy, and so very free.